One of the country’s leading converters of VW Transporters, also building on the larger Crafter and MAN TGE
BASED in Derby, this campervan converter has grown considerably in stature since its birth in 2004. Twenty years on, it remains a family business, run by the Cross brothers, but it’s now one of the UK’s foremost firms when it comes to T6.1 campers. Not only that but it puts safety to the fore, with the credentials to prove it – not just European Whole Vehicle Type Approval but National Caravan Council approval and as one of the select few members of Volkswagen’s Motorhome Qualification Scheme. It uses top-quality fittings, such as German SCA pop-tops, where others sometimes cut costs with lesser kit.
You can always expect to see a variety of ’vans converted and ready to go at its factory site (open Monday to Saturday), as well as a small selection of used vehicles, and its displays at the two indoor NEC motorhome shows (February and October) are usually the biggest and most colourful of all campervan brands.
Here, we bring you a rundown of the current Hillside range…
BIRCHOVER S FROM £51,995
Hillside’s entry-level model adopts the classic side kitchen campervan layout in a VW Transporter T6.1 short-wheelbase but, despite its super-competitive price tag, it is built to the same approval standards as the company’s more expensive models – that’s a huge plus over many other VW conversions.
There’s an RIB rear seat/bed and SCA pop-top, while kitchen fittings include a two-burner hob and 50-litre compressor fridge. The Startline cab comes with air-conditioning, rear parking sensors, a 6.5in touchscreen, a leather steering wheel and swivels for both front seats. The standard 110hp engine can be upgraded at extra cost, while seven different furniture finishes are offered. A high-top version is also available.
BIRCHOVER CLASSIC FROM £59,945
Hillside’s most popular model, the Birchover Classic, again features a conventional side galley floorplan but here both the kitchen and base vehicle are appointed to a higher level. Behind the driver’s seat, a door (incorporating extra storage) hides the larger (65-litre) fridge as well as a grill above (an oven is fitted in long-wheelbase XL versions). A solid worktop is a premium touch.
The rear RIB bench seat turns into a double bed with chaise longue position, while the SCA roof includes a second double as standard (go for the high roof model and extra cupboards are fitted instead). A portable toilet stores under the b
